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A friend of mine has booked a last-minute flight to Brussels for today to get the last 15 TP he needs to keep Gold status. The question is – he lands in Brussels, then he has 1h15 to board again and come back. How does it work in terms of airport logistics. Does he need to get out and then back in again, through security, passports etc or does he go for connecting flights? Or…? No idea!
Surely something to have thought about long before the day of departure???
I don’t think that link provides anything definitive because this is not a connection in the normal sense, it’s a non-Schengen arrival and, notwithstanding the same ticket, a separate non-Schengen return departure. These days that typically requires going through passport control twice, unless Brussels is known to work otherwise.
I guess it may make a difference if their connections route doesn’t care how one boarding pass relates to the other.
…I don’t think that link provides anything definitive…
A MCT of 50mins.
Yes it’s valid in that sense, otherwise it wouldn’t have been bookable (I’m assuming one return ticket, otherwise someone is being very brave!). What I meant was that it doesn’t give a definitive answer to the OP’s questions about logistics.
Yes it’s valid in that sense, otherwise it wouldn’t have been bookable (I’m assuming one return ticket, otherwise someone is being very brave!). What I meant was that it doesn’t give a definitive answer to the OP’s questions about logistics.
There’s a map https://media.brusselsairport.be/bruweb/default/0001/28/88d79b578d2e2d50889aa94168aa5da34df1170f.jpeg
Post 2199 onwards has recent info – to summarise, generally no passports but definitely security. Probably ok.
Thanks @John !
There is a thread on flyer talk that covers this.
If the arriving passengers mix with the departing passengers at the gate then no problem. He can just wait around for bording to start
But if they have to clear the border to enter and then leave Schengen (and possibly security) then the timing becomes more critical
Thanks all. He decided this morning as he realised that he was short of 15 points!
Next time tell him to plan better!
he really could have come unstuck if he had chosed the ‘wrong’ airport.
My wife did a BRU run yesterday in Club. Food and service spot on. But she did leave the terminal for some moules and Leffe!
Just as an update – ground staff at BRU didn’t expect any “transit” passengers but they opened the gates for my friend and some other passenger who was doing exactly the same so it was all fine in the end. Flight attendants told him that they had seen TP runs all week.
I doubt there will be another time but you never know. The suggested doing it at AMS as the arrival hall is as the same as the departure one. Same in FCO.
Anyway thank you!
That’s because they weren’t, strictly speaking, transit passengers and wouldn’t be marked on any system as being so.
In some countries this sort of trip wouldn’t be allowed and you’d be required to clear the border and so on.
That’s even if you were allowed to board the plane in the first place.
And many airports don’t have transit routes at all. There are even UK airports where an immediate turnaround isn’t possible.
I doubt there will be another time but you never know.
Traditional TP runs are effectively dead for new bookings. As it’s purely spend related optimising the cheapest flights and shortest turnarounds is no longer the deciding factor. If you need to earn a few more TP then a relaxed day trip somewhere with multiple flights to choose from for a net spend of £xxx gives exactly the same return as any other trip for the same money.
..Traditional TP runs are effectively dead for new bookings…
They’ll probably be some sector runners in March 26 who might be just a few sectors short for bronze or silver status.
Well that’s probably a good thing! Flights can operate on a real basis. Quite sad for passengers and destinations eg in Eastern Europe shunned because they were only 4O TP.
Not necessarily dead though if one goes down the Finnair route. TP runs are still a thing for those doing that – me for example but I’ve never done a TP run to be fair.
Well that’s probably a good thing! Flights can operate on a real basis. Quite sad for passengers and destinations eg in Eastern Europe shunned because they were only 4O TP.
Apologies for being part of the problem, but it’s not for the planet if people are travelling just to get TP. Why not just sell them for the same price?? My wife did an 80 TP run to retain Silver @ £250.
I guess in the new scheme, if you’re 15% short that’s probably nearer £1.2-£1.5k of a TP run. Not quite the same proposition!
I guess if they just sold them, too many people would take them up on the offer. The whole tier point run business is something limited to enthusiasts (of aviation yes, but also of the loyalty schemes) really.
Not necessarily dead though if one goes down the Finnair route. TP runs are still a thing for those doing that – me for example but I’ve never done a TP run to be fair.
Plenty of genuine enthusiasts wouldn’t want to do a TP run I think. They’d rather use the multiple short breaks. I guess it depends on your time budget as well.
I guess if they just sold them, too many people would take them up on the offer. The whole tier point run business is something limited to enthusiasts (of aviation yes, but also of the loyalty schemes) really.
Is it “enthusiasts” though or is it more just those obsessed with status?
Traditional TP runs are effectively dead for new bookings. As it’s purely spend related optimising the cheapest flights and shortest turnarounds is no longer the deciding factor. If you need to earn a few more TP then a relaxed day trip somewhere with multiple flights to choose from for a net spend of £xxx gives exactly the same return as any other trip for the same money.
Huh?? Under the old system, you can still do a relaxed day trip, as it earns the same number of TPs as back-to-back flights.
Short turnarounds are not necessarily cheaper. The rationale for coming straight back is still the same – because you don’t have time.
The only difference with the new system is that you’d aim to get the cheapest flights above the amount of £ you need to spend, rather than the cheapest flights above £0.
But if you are approaching the end of the membership year and find you need to spend more with BA, you can also make changes to booked trips to choose more expensive flights. Or just don’t book until prices rise.
Is it “enthusiasts” though or is it more just those obsessed with status?
Ouch 😂. Silver for £250 is well worth it for me – seat selection, lounge, baggage.
My wife did a TP run on 28th and the TP/status came through today (31st). Not sure BA’s IT system will cope with the last minute TP runners with points credited straddling the year end….
I guess if they just sold them, too many people would take them up on the offer. The whole tier point run business is something limited to enthusiasts (of aviation yes, but also of the loyalty schemes) really.
Is it “enthusiasts” though or is it more just those obsessed with status?
Ha, You got me here. The RJ status match requalification started as a “deal one cannot refuse” as the Americans would say. Once you hit a certain tier it’s just difficult to give up. “Plastic card is all” to paraphrase mediocre historical drama “The Last Kingdom”. Counterpoint: from day one hitchhiking through Spain I basically became an enthusiast. Much like those obsessed with train timetables and various railway carriage toilet flush systems.
As stated before, I’ve never taken so many days off in my life. It’s been an enjoyable time all around. I think as long as you see it as such an outrageous one-off project, and actually fill the layovers with culturally relevant activities, you are doing yourself a favor. Will I do it again? Probably not (to the relief of those closest to me).
Let’s be honest I completely despise those that undertake these type of activities annually and then go on to be the most entitled passengers in the cabin, milking all that can be milked, complaining about things for miles etc. etc. But for the next two years I guess I should put myself into my place and know that whilst flying OW for this duration I won’t be any different than the aforementioned.
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